Cover Reveal | 'Circle of Shadows' by Evelyn Skye

Title: 

Circle of Shadows

Author: 

Evelyn Skye

Genres: 

Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance

Publication Date: 

January 22nd, 2019

Publisher: 

Balzer + Bray 

Summary from Goodreads: 

Sora can move as silently as a ghost and hurl throwing stars with lethal accuracy. Her gemina, Daemon, can win any physical fight blindfolded and with an arm tied behind his back. They are apprentice warriors of the Society of Taigas—marked by the gods to be trained in magic and the fighting arts to protect the kingdom of Kichona.

As their graduation approaches, Sora and Daemon look forward to proving themselves worthy of belonging to the elite group—but in a kingdom free of violence since the Blood Rift Rebellion many years ago, it’s been difficult to make their mark. So when Sora and Daemon encounter a strange camp of mysterious soldiers while on a standard scouting mission, they decide the only thing to do to help their kingdom is to infiltrate the group.Taking this risk will change Sora’s life forever—and lead her on a mission of deception that may fool everyone she’s ever loved.

Love, spies, and adventure abound as Sora and Daemon unravel a complex web of magic and secrets that might tear them—and the entire kingdom—apart.

Buy Links:

Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Indigo│Kobo

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About the Author: 

Evelyn Skye is the New York Times bestselling author of THE CROWN'S GAME and its sequel, THE CROWN'S FATE. Her new series, CIRCLE OF SHADOWS, will be published on January 22, 2019. 


Evelyn has a B.A. in Russian literature & history from Stanford University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. She was once offered a job by the C.I.A., she not-so-secretly wishes she was on "So You Think You Can Dance," and if you challenge her to a pizza-eating contest, she guarantees she will win. 

When she isn't writing, Evelyn can be found chasing her daughter on the playground or sitting on the couch, immersed in a good book and eating way too many cookies. She can be found online at www.evelynskye.com and on Twitter @EvelynSkyeYA.

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Waiting on Wednesday {28}

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, Hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that I'm eagerly anticipating. 

Title:

A River of Stars

Author:

Vanessa Hua

Publication Date:

August 14th, 2018

Publisher:

                                    Ballantine Books

Summary from Goodreads:

In a powerful debut novel about motherhood, immigration, and identity, a pregnant Chinese woman makes her way to California and stakes a claim to the American dream.

Holed up with other moms-to-be in a secret maternity home in Los Angeles, Scarlett Chen is far from her native China, where she worked in a factory job and fell in love with the owner, Boss Yeung. Now she's carrying his baby. Already married with three daughters, he's overjoyed because the doctors confirmed he will finally have the son he has always wanted. To ensure that his son has every advantage, he has shipped Scarlett off to give birth on American soil. U.S. citizenship will open doors for their little prince.

As Scarlett awaits the baby's arrival, she chokes down bitter medicinal stews and spars with her imperious housemates. The only one who fits in even less is Daisy, a spirited teenager and fellow unwed mother who is being kept apart from her American boyfriend.

Then a new sonogram of Scarlett's baby reveals the unexpected. Panicked, she escapes by hijacking a van--only to discover that she has a stowaway: Daisy, who intends to track down the father of her child. They flee to San Francisco's bustling Chinatown, where Scarlett will join countless immigrants desperately trying to seize their piece of the American dream. What Scarlett doesn't know is that her baby's father is not far behind her.

A River of Stars is an entertaining, wildly unpredictable adventure, told with empathy and wit by an author the San Francisco Chronicle says "has a deep understanding of the pressure of submerged emotions and polite, face-saving deceptions." It's a vivid examination of home and belonging, and a moving portrayal of a woman determined to build her own future. 

                                              

Review | Ace of Shades by Amanda Foody

Ace of Shades

by Amanda Foody 

Published by Harlequin Teen on April 10th, 2018

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance

Series: The Shadow Game - Book One

Pages: 411

Format: Hardcover

Source: Bought at Indigo

Summary from Goodreads: 

Welcome to the City of Sin, where casino families reign, gangs infest the streets…
and secrets hide in every shadow.

Enne Salta was raised as a proper young lady, and no lady would willingly visit New Reynes, the so-called City of Sin. But when her mother goes missing, Enne must leave her finishing school—and her reputation—behind to follow her mother’s trail to the city where no one survives uncorrupted.

Frightened and alone, her only lead is a name: Levi Glaisyer. Unfortunately, Levi is not the gentleman she expected—he’s a street lord and a con man. Levi is also only one payment away from cleaning up a rapidly unraveling investment scam, so he doesn't have time to investigate a woman leading a dangerous double life. Enne's offer of compensation, however, could be the solution to all his problems. 

Their search for clues leads them through glamorous casinos, illicit cabarets and into the clutches of a ruthless mafia donna. As Enne unearths an impossible secret about her past, Levi's enemies catch up to them, ensnaring him in a vicious execution game where the players always lose. To save him, Enne will need to surrender herself to the city…

And she’ll need to play.

Buy Links:

Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Indigo

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Review:



Having never read any of Amanda Foody's previous books, I didn't know what to expect when I picked this book up. However, I am ultimately glad I chose to pick this book up and stick with it because it ended up being such an amazingly immersive book to read. 


The characters are so well written and absolutely fascinating to read. The main character, Enne, starts off as someone who is a bit naive, lost, and afraid of the outcome of her mother. As the story progresses, she becomes a stronger character who is kind, feminine, speaks her mind, confident, and finds a much greater strength that she’s never had before. 

The romance was spectacular to read! The chemistry, tension, and ‘will they, won’t they’ moments had me shipping them like crazy. I enjoyed the diversity, the romance, and the overall essence of this story. Foody knows how to build a world and make it seem as realistic as possible. Overall, this was such an amazing book to read! I will definitely be picking up the next book in this series, King of Fools, once it’s released. 

I recommend picking up Ace of Shades today, especially if you like great world building, awesome characters, and a dash of romance.

Rating:

★★★★★

About The Author:

Amanda Foody has always considered imagination to be our best attempt at magic. After spending her childhood longing to attend Hogwarts, she now loves to write about immersive settings and characters grappling with insurmountable destinies. She holds a Masters in Accountancy from Villanova University, and a Bachelors of Arts in English Literature from the College of William and Mary. Currently, she works as a tax accountant in Philadelphia, PA, surrounded by her many siblings and many books.

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